What is "heavy"?

[Mr. Wyndham]

I'm not talking specific cars, now.

But it seems that people are calling cars heavy, fat, and pigs today without any logical justification other than the fact that "the number is high."

So....what is "heavy" to you...and why?

Input from the professionals is most appreciated.
coughNumber3cough

[Sax1031]

Past 3300-3400lbs for a pony car I call heavy.

[ViperTomcat]

Depends on the era, IMO.

3900 pounds was pretty heavy for a pony car back in the original round of the HP wars (69 Mustang, 69 Camaro,70 Challenger were all under 4,000 pounds)

Today I'd say a car isnt truly "heavy" until you hit about the 4,400 lb mark (CTS-V). 4,300-3,500 I'd say is "stout" and under that is pretty light considering todays safety standards and equipment.

[lil_chef]

if it is a performance car anything over 3000-3500 lb range (depending on whether it is a 2 seater or 2+2) is too heavy. i want to see the camaro/mustang be under 3500 lb come 2015

[WadeWilson]

Originally Posted by lil_chef

if it is a performance car anything over 3000-3500 lb range (depending on whether it is a 2 seater or 2+2) is too heavy. i want to see the camaro/mustang be under 3500 lb come 2015

I would too, but I don't think the Camaro will drop that much weight by just switching to the Alpha platform. I could be wrong though. It's happened once or twice. The Mustang has a better chance to get there considering they are already a couple hundred pounds lighter than the Camaro.

[Stew]

Well, when bad things happen, your signifgant other cheats on you, you lose your job........... oh wrong kind of heavy LOL. I think Viper Tomcat hit it pretty well IMHO.

[bigearl]

Sports Car >3500
Sporty Coupe >4000
Sedan >4400

All of those numbers came straight from my keyster.

[brandotron]

This is heavy

[bigearl]

Originally Posted by brandotron

This is heavy

I don't know, he's probably lost a lot of weight since May. Oh too soon?

[LOWDOWN]

By going to more "exotic" materials, weight may disappear, but co$t$ will soar.

Smaller generally means lighter. That can be chassis and/or powertrain. More power from less displacement/fewer cylinders helps. DI, for instance, allows high efficiency 6s to replace V8s, and 4s to be considered instead of V6s.

With 2016 CAFE approaching, all manner of "new technologies" and processes will see gradual increases in "efficiency" which, after all, is what this deal is all about.

[brandotron]

Originally Posted by bigearl

I don't know, he's probably lost a lot of weight since May. Oh too soon?

Oh no you didn't

[ffrcobra_65]

Weight relative to RWHP makes sense. 250-300 RWHP pushing 3800 pounds (not including driver) is HEAVY

I had a factory five roadster (Shelby Cobra replica) that weighed <2400 pounds with me sitting in it with full tank of gas with only 300rwhp but left my Supercharged SS in the dust.

[BigDan]

4,000lbs+ I consider heavy now days. We're not going to see affordable 3,500lb V8's anymore. Your best bet for a light weight V8 now days is going with a Mustang. Von Gittin Jr's 2011 drift Mustang is 2,500lbs and they should be able to hit 3,500lbs with out too much modifying on a stock 2011. Heck you can lift the front tires off the ground with a set of sticky's and a catless tune on a 2011.

Sorry to sound like a fan boy but the new GT has a lot of racing potential due to its light weight, 7k+ redline and SRA make it a strong contender if your going the light weight route.

Peddlers new road race Camaro might just show us how to throw a 4k lb Camaro around a road course and make vette's look bad.

[Mr. Wyndham]

We're not talking about specific cars in here....thanks.